Knitting-machine.



H. AIKEN.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1911.

1 ,273,803. Patented July 30, 1918.

Zrzverztor J-Zerrz'ciz 62 a' 7(erz/ aztt y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEBBICK AIKEN, FRANKLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 CHARLES L. AIKEN,

0F FRANKLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

' Application filed April 12, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HnnRioK AIKEN, of Franklin, in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to knitting machines, and especially to the needle cylinder and needles thereof.

For reasons which are so well known as not to require explanation herein, it is customary to slightly bend or curve the needles of knittin machines laterally so that there will be su cient friction between their sides and the sides of the grooves in the cylinder in which the needles are reciprocally mounted, to cause the needles to remain in the po sitions to which they are shifted longitudinally until positively moved to some other position. The treatment of the needles to properly bend or curve them is a delicate one which is rendered unnecessary by my invention under which the necessary friction is effected by, or is the result of, magnetic action instead of by imparting to the needles forms other than straight or flat.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of so much of one type of knitting machine, with my improvements, as is necessary to explain my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. I

It is to be understood that my invention is equally applicable to any other type of knitting machines, although the following description is limited to the embodiment illustrated in the two figures of the drawing.

The needle cylinder 10, having grooves for the needles 11 as usual, is mounted upon a suitable support a portion of which is indicated at 12. A circular series of magnets 13, wired in series and connected to a battery 14 or other source of electrical energy, are mounted in position close to the inner wall of the cylinder. A suitable support for said magnets is aiforded by an inner shell 15 having a flange 16 by which said shell is securely mounted upon the support Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

Serial No. 161,480.

the needles to remain in any position tov which they have been shifted longitudinally until positively moved to some other position.

Having now described my invention, and explained a way to carry the same into effect, although without attempting to describe obviously equivalent methods of producing the same results, what I claim is:

1. A knitting machine having ma ets in proximity to the needle carrier for e ecting friction between the needles and their guides.

2. A knitting machine having grooved and means for guideways for the needles, magnetizing said guideways.

3. A knitting machine needle cylinder having external grooves for the needles, and a series of electro-magnets adjacent the inner wall of the cylinder.

4. A knitting machine needle cylinder having external grooves for the needles, and a series of electro-magnets adjacent the inner wall of the cylinder, a guide for the work being mounted inside said magnets.

5. A knitting machine needle cylinder having external grooves for the needles, a shell having a flaring upper end inside the cylinder, and a series of electro-magnets supported by said shell in position to magnetize the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

' HERRIOK AIKEN. Witnesses:

GILBERT Honens, AUGUSTUS B. SAWYER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

